I don't think doctors are really surprised by the higher percentages of MS in families, though the statistics published are relatively lower. My cousin and I both have MS. My younger son been diagnosed with IBD and definitely has some symptoms of MS. He refuses to see a doctor about his symptoms at this time because he is a commercial driver. My daughter has NMO, which is often misdiagnosed as MS. My older son seems to have missed the bullet at this time. I don't believe the statistics are deliberately skewed, but I don't feel that they are accurate.